STATE COLLEGE, PA — The community garden on East College Avenue at University Drive has gone untouched this summer as the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy struggles to find a volunteer for its upkeep.

With only seven staff members and 132 gardens to monitor, the conservancy relies on volunteers to make the gardens possible.

“Our office is in Pittsburgh, and we have some gardens that are far away in Erie, North Huntingdon, Altoona, State College and even farther away in Harrisburg,” said Lynne McGuire-Olzack, the conservancy’s volunteer coordinator. “This is the first time we don’t have a volunteer in State College.”

Growing up in Philadelphia, if my family wanted to visit a farm or an orchard to pick our own fruits and vegetables, we had to get in the car for a long ride. In more recent years, however, there has been a push to provide more green spaces and more community gardens and orchards that would help provide healthier food options to urban neighborhoods, especially those where food scarcity is a serious issue. Since 2007, the Philadelphia Orchard Project (POP) has been working with community-based groups and volunteers to plan and plant orchards in the city.

On Saturday, June 28 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., the Friends of Philadelphia Orchard Project and Sedgley Woods are holding a fundraiser to support the work POP has been doing. At this family-friendly event, you are invited to come learn how to putt, and drive discs from golfers of Sedgley Woods in East Fairmount Park. Tickets start at $15 and include a free POP pint glass. Children under the age of 12 are free.

The money raised will allow POP to continue its work planting orchards in vacant lots, community gardens, schoolyards as well as other urban locations. So far they have supported 46 orchards and have planted 36 orchards and 697 trees. Their bounty has included apples, asian pears, cherries, figs, peaches, pears, plums, berries, grapes and kiwi.

Hope this note finds each of you in good health and spirits! Spring is officially here, I’d I like to invite you to the 5th Annual Garden Party held at the Washington/Chestnut Sts. Park this Sunday, May 18. It will be a morning of beautifying the park with annuals and mulch donated by Colonial Gardens and light refreshments courtesy of Genesis Housing Corp. Details are below and don’t forget your gardening tools! SHOVELS, RAKES and GLOVES!WHAT: 5TH ANNUAL GARDEN PARTYWHERE: WASHINGTON/CHESTNUT STS. PARKDATE: Sunday MAY 18,2014TIME: 10:00am – 12:00pmHope to See you there! Anna, Citizens for Pottstown CPR

NANTICOKE, PA – Rebecca Seman wants to see the Nanticoke area community growing.

Mainly vegetables, but she’d like to see people grow some flowers, too.

About a month ago, Seman started the Greater Nanticoke Area Community Garden initiative with the idea of getting area residents interested in sustainable farming. She also wants to organize events to improve the community, including a cleanup and flower-planting at Patriot Square Park this Saturday.

“It’s just something I’ve kind of always wanted to do,” Seman said. “Lately I’ve seen a lot of places around the country are trying to become more sustainable. I’d like to see that in Nanticoke.”

POTTSTOWN — The sun is shining on some days and the rain is pouring on others, which makes it the season of gardening.

Although it’s the season to grow, gardening can seem intimidating for people who’ve never done it before.

Garden manager Laura Washington of the MOSAIC Pottstown Community Gardens said container gardening is a great option for beginners.

“It allows for gardeners to contain their garden in a small space,” she said.

Container gardening is also preferable for people with limitations such as arthritis in their knees, Washington said. People can place their carton on a stool or tabletop and work sitting down, she said.

On Saturday, April 5, the MOSAIC CLT spent a day in community preparing our gardens for the coming growing season! Neighbors and friends swept, dug, and spread compost and smiles at our two gardens at 423 and 615 Chestnut Street. We’ll have another Garden Day on April 12 from Noon to 3 PM, and again on Wednesday, April 23 from 2 – 3 PM.

Come grow with the MOSAIC Community Land Trust!

Saturday, April 12 – Volunteer Day at the Gardens (423 and 615 Chestnut Street) from 12 – 3PM

Please plan on meeting at the 423 Chestnut Street location prior to start

Wednesday, April 23 – Volunteer Day at the Gardens (423 and 615 Chestnut Street) from 2 – 3PM

Please plan on meeting at the 423 Chestnut Street location prior to start.

Laura Washington is the Garden Manager for the Mosaic Community Land Trust. As a certified herbalist, weight and lifestyle coach, and a Level 1 CrossFit trainer, Laura has a passion for organic foods, natural healing and physical activity. She also serves as a board member for the Pottstown Karate Club. As a member of the TCN Environmental Health & Safety Committee, Laura conducts organic gardening workshops for the community. She will be facilitating two upcoming workshops this month. One will be held on Friday, April 11th at 10:30 am at the Pottstown Seniors’ Center and a second workshop on April 22nd at 6:00pm at the Pottstown Regional Public Library. “We are proud to have her as a member of the Committee,” stated Robyn Slater, committee co-chair.

These events are listed on the monthly activity calendars found on the Calendars/Documents/Forms page on their website. This post is providing detailed information on each event.

Wednesday, March 12, 2014 – 5:15 – 8:00 PM

Brookside County Club

850 N. Adams Street

Pottstown, PA 19464

“March into Healthy Eating” Event

The Healthy Woman program at Pottstown Memorial Medical Center will hold a “March into Healthy Eating” event on Wednesday, March 12th at Brookside Country Club from 5:15 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. This event will feature an informative evening of food, facts, and fun ways to eat green. Tickets are priced at $15 per person.

Scott Bailey, Director of Food and Nutritional Services at Pottstown Memorial Medical Center will present “30 Days to Green Your Diet,” and the benefits of adding something green to every meal. In addition, Laura Washington who represents the MOSAIC Community Land Trust Gardens in Pottstown, will present the benefits of buying local and green.

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Thursday, March 27, 2014 – 6:00 – 7:30 PM

MOSAIC Community Land Trust

10 S Hanover Street

Pottstown, PA 19464

Board Meeting

Open to those who wish to learn more or share ideas regarding the MOSAIC Community Land Trust and the Community Gardens in our area.

Please send an email using the “contact us” page on our website to let us know of your plans to attend the meeting: mosaicclt.org

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Saturday, March 29, 2014 – 5:00 – 8:00 PM

MOSAIC Community Land Trust

10 S Hanover Street

Pottstown, PA 19464

Community Garden Social

Please plan to attend this fun and educational event! We will uncover what it is like to be on the land trust board, or a member of one of the MOSAIC’s productive committees! If you have ever considered volunteering for a non-profit now is the time! There are great things happening (large and small) by way of the land trust that have long-lasting, positive impacts in our community!

Make plans to attend the Social to find out more about the amazing opportunities!

Please send an email using the “contact us” page on our website to let us know of your plans to attend the social: mosaicclt.org

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Friday, April 22, 2014 – 6:00 PM

Pottstown Public Library

500 E High Street

Pottstown, PA 19464

Small Space Gardening Workshop

Learn the basics in household gardening and fresh ideas on how to maximize your small garden space to reap a hearty and healthy harvest through this interactive workshop!

Make plans to ATTEND this FREE event!

Please send an email using the “contact us” page on our website to let us know of your plans to attend the social: mosaicclt.org

The best selection of trees are still available for purchase at the MOSAIC Community Garden! Prices range from $20-$40. Garden committee members are available to assist you with the purchase of your tree by appointment all weekend long! A beautiful, locally-grown tree it right at your fingertips! Please take advantage of this great offer. Contact Laura Washington at (484) 300-2410 to arrange an appointment or to find out more!

The Mosaic Community Garden, located in Pottstown Borough, received a 2013 Montgomery Award for creative vision, successful collaboration, strong community involvement, and positive neighborhood impact. This popular garden offers an attractive gathering place for residents to grow a variety of produce and learn about healthy living.

Thanks to our generous garden members and our generous garden plots, we have plenty tomatoes, green peppers, herbs and local fruit for sale!

Stop by and pick up the latest copy of Organic Gardening or other information on food justice and where to buy fresh, wholesome foods in our local area! We have a list of local organizations and companies who offer nothing but the best. Pick up a copy during your garden visit this Saturday!

The stand and information stand will be open for business on Saturday, October 5th at 9:30 AM sharp!

Be sure to get there early so you don’t miss out on some of the super-fresh items being offered Saturday! This may be your last chance…

We are happy to announce the opening day of our Produce and Information Stand!

The children of our youth program and several volunteers had a hand in tending the earth and growing veggies. Earlier this summer, they diligently worked to build the stand to bring the “fruits of their labor” to your table!!

On September 7th the kids and volunteers will staff the Produce Stand to sell fresh produce, herbs, local peaches and other healthy goodies, each Saturday morning from 9:30 AM – 12 noon, through September 28th, 2013.

In addition, we will have information regarding organic gardening and other resources to find out more about our local CSAs and organic grocery stores. Lastly, the public can learn more about what they can do to ensure every family has access to healthier food options in our area.

Look for the Produce and Information Stand in front of the gardens at 423 Chestnut Street in Pottstown, (you canʼt miss us)!!

Priced right for you, all of the proceeds from the produce stand will enable MOSAIC to continue to develop workshops and other fun, educational activities for young and old alike; while educating individuals in food justice and security. All the while, the young farmers will be learning sales skills, marketing and public relations.

Now, for a special thanks to our sponsor: Global Advanced Metals of Boyertown, for their generous donation and support. Global Advanced Metals processes a metal called “tantalum,” found in Australia. Their core values of safety, health and environmental excellence guide the work that they do and dovetails nicely with our healthy outlook too!!

Local honey will be available for purchase as well. The garden has its own bee hive for pollination, tended by Lee Mauger.

When working in community gardens, participants reap what they sow and more.

A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Utah showed that the health benefits of a community garden go far beyond the fresh fruits and vegetables added to your diet.

After studying the body mass index data of 198 community gardeners and their same-sex siblings, spouses and neighbors, researchers found they had lower BMIs than their non-gardening counterparts. They were also less likely to be obese or overweight.

When a gardener’s BMI, a measure of body fat, was compared to their non-gardening spouse’s BMI, the researchers found no discernible difference. This led them to conclude that the spouses were benefiting from the harvested food and possibly helped out in the garden. Results were reported April 18 in the American Journal of Public Health.

How it all began: In the summer of 2012, Dick Heylmun, the owner of Pine Tree Hill Farm, contacted Mosaic Community Land Trust, after learning about their work in the Community garden on Chestnut Street.

Mr Heylmun, an avid gardener himself, conceived of the idea to offer prize money to people living in the Beech to High Street, Adams to Charlotte Street area for creating beautiful street-side gardens and plantings. He knows how pretty a block can be when the residents take pride in their homes and gardens and he revels in the joy and sense of pride that gardens bring to the gardener and all who pass by.

Mosaic partnered with the Pottstown Garden club to develop, advertise and judge the contest. Flyers were distributed to all the homes in the area while the Mercury helped promote the contest in an article about both the garden contest.

With only nine entries for this competition, the first of its kind in the core neighborhood, we hope to inspire confidence in others to enter next year. The gardeners chose one of three categories and most of the entries were in the “front garden and planters combined” category.

Two members from the Pottstown Garden Club, Nancy Toothacher and Karin Albera, accompanied board member, Gretchen Lea, (who is also a Penn State Master Gardner), and Laura Washington, the MOSAIC garden manager, as they set out one very hot afternoon to walk the blocks and judge the gardens. It was hard, yet fun and rewarding.

The contestants showed a sense of pride and enthusiasm about their creations, and had a variety of reasons why they chose one plant or another and why they chose to place them where they did.

Some plants have personal meaning, like beautiful memories and experiences of the gardens and gardeners we have known and loved -they are place makers in our lives. Gardens are often creative expressions of their creators. Knowing this, while judging makes the job difficult, but all the more fun.

Asking a gardener about their gardens is like possessing the key to a box, open it up and you’ll find out something about what’s inside.

The judges passed several pretty and interesting gardens along the way and wished that those gardens had been entered in the contest too. When asked why they didn’t enter, a few folks proclaimed… “Mine is not quite good enough”. Some gardeners can be too hard on themselves. Working with nature is not easy. Nature cannot be controlled. That makes gardening all the more challenging and rewarding. I beg all who dig in the soil to keep up the confidence to keep planting. Every garden is a unique expression of the gardener.

I have entered my garden in shows and contests, even though they weren’t perfect, because others get joy in seeing them. It is rewarding to watch people blossom when they see what you have accomplished. It too is a great way to connect with one another. For me, gardening is a great reason to be outside and to work with Mother Nature as I try to express myself.

The Winners Are:

For Planters and window boxes:

Athena Singer 1st prize 352 Walnut Street $150

Anna Johnson 2nd prize 515 Chestnut Street $ 75

The Garden awards and prize money were presented Sunday July 14th at 5 o’clock at the MOSAIC Community Garden, followed by a get together with refreshments, conversation and friendship.

We hope you will take the time to walk through the neighborhood and check out the winner’s gardens as well as all the other gardens that capture the imagination.

Garden by garden the Mosaic Community Land Trust’s designated areas will blossom, as the first garden has done, with people sharing stories, recipes, making new friends, learning about their gardens, trading plants and ideas while enjoying the fruits of their labor.

Thank you Dick Helymun for your great idea and generosity!

Mosaic would like to make the Beautification Contest an annual tradition. If you would like to make a donation or take part we’d love to hear from you.

There will be plenty of both at Saturday’s Gourmet Garden Tour in the Centre Park Historic District, the 20th annual event where residents of the Victorian-era neighborhood let visitors explore their normally secret gardens.

But for ticket holders to Saturday evening’s self-guided tour, the addition of food, spirits and musicians might make the tour feel more like a neighborhood-wide garden party.

Five homes and two businesses, with properties ranging from twins to freestanding mansions, are slated to take part in Saturday’s event.